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Will Telegram be banned in India? Five exam controversies linked with this app – Times of India

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NEW DELHI: Telegram, a popular messaging app with over 5 million users in India, is facing an uncertain future as the government intensifies its scrutiny of the platform. A recent probe by the Centre into extortion and gambling activities has cast a shadow over the app’s operations, raising the possibility of a potential ban.Adding to the app’s challenges, Telegram’s co-founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested in Paris on Saturday (August 24) as part of a preliminary police investigation.The allegations against Durov include allowing a wide range of crimes due to inadequate moderation and insufficient cooperation with law enforcement. This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing scrutiny of Telegram.The fate of the app in India now depends on the findings of these investigations. Authorities are examining the platform’s role in various illicit activities, and potential consequences could range from stricter regulations to a complete shutdown.Telegram: A Haven for Exam Paper LeaksTelegram’s strong privacy features, intended to protect user data, have inadvertently created a safe space for illegal activities, including the leaking of exam papers. The app’s ability to conceal users’ identities, such as their name, number, and photo, makes it difficult for authorities to trace those responsible.Several exam papers, including those for the UGC-NET 2024, NEET UG, CISCE, and MPPSC, have been leaked on Telegram, raising serious concerns about the app’s role in facilitating academic fraud and undermining the fairness of educational assessments.UGC-NET 2024 Paper LeakThe UGC NET 2024 exam, conducted on June 18, 2024, was marred by a significant paper leak circulated on Telegram. This breach led to the cancellation of the test for approximately 9 lakh candidates, highlighting the vulnerabilities in the examination process and the need for stronger preventive measures.NEET-UG 2024 Paper LeakThe NEET UG exam, held on May 5, 2024, also suffered a paper leak, reportedly originating in several districts across Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Haryana. The incident, suspected to be connected to Telegram, compromised the fairness of the exam for thousands of aspiring medical students, prompting calls for stricter security measures.MPPSC Paper LeakThe Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) exam was similarly compromised by a paper leak on June 22, 2024, with the leaked paper circulating on Telegram and reportedly sold for Rs 2,500. This sparked widespread outrage and concern over the integrity of the examination process.UP Police Exam Paper LeakThe Uttar Pradesh Police Constable recruitment process has faced repeated disruptions due to paper leaks. Initially scheduled for February 2024, the exam was canceled due to a leaked paper and rescheduled twice, only to face further rumors of leaks that led to additional cancellations. Despite ongoing investigations and reassurances from the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB), concerns remain high.CISCE Std 12 Chemistry Paper LeakThe Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) canceled the ISC Chemistry Paper 1 exam on February 27, 2024, just before it was set to begin. The cancellation, due to the exam paper’s widespread circulation on platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp, marked the second such incident in 15 years, underscoring the challenges in maintaining exam integrity.

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‘6-7 bullets fired, bombs hurled’: BJP leader Priyangu Pandey claims TMC goons attacked his car | India News – Times of India

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NEW DELHI: BJP leader Priyangu Pandey was reportedly shot on Wednesday in the Bhatpara area of North 24 Parganas in West Bengal during a 12-hour ‘Bengal Bandh.’ Pandey alleged that people associated with the TMC attacked his car and opened fire, resulting in injuries to two people, with one in critical condition.”Today I was going to our leader Arjun Singh’s residence…We moved some distance and the road was blocked by a jetting machine from Bhatpara Municipality.The moment our car stopped, around 50-60 people targeted the vehicle. 7 to 8 bombs were thrown at my vehicle and then 6-7 round firing was done,” Pandey said.”This is a joint conspiracy of TMC and the police. They planned my murder. The police supported and gave information. My security was withdrawn and then this incident happened,” he added.Another party leader Arjun Singh claimed that the attack on Pandey took place in the presence of senior Bengal police officer.”Priyangu Pandey is our party leader. Today his car was attacked and firing was done. The driver has been shot. 7 round firing was done. This was done in the presence of the ACP. Planning was done to kill Priyangu Pandey. TMC is left with no issue therefore they are doing these kinds of things. Two people are injured, one among them is serious,” he said.BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari also reacted to the incident and accused the TMC-led West Bengal government of trying to force BJP off the street.Taking to X, Adhikari said, “TMC goon opening fire on eminent BJP Leader Priyangu Pandey’s vehicle at Bhatpara. The driver of the vehicle is shot.””This is how Mamata Banerjee & TMC are trying to force BJP off the street. The Bandh is successful and people have supported it wholeheartedly. The toxic cocktail of Police & TMC Goons won’t be able to scare BJP,” he added.This comes amid BJP’s call for a 12 hour strike against the police action on the participants of the march to state secretariat Nabbana demanding the resignation of the chief minister Mamata Banerjee over the rape-murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

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Indian Railways links DigiLocker with its hiring portal; here’s how it will reduce railway jobs recruitment time frame – Times of India

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Indian Railways has integrated DigiLocker, a digital document wallet launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, with its recruitment portal. This integration allows job aspirants to link their digital documents, which are considered equivalent to the original physical ones. According to an ET report, the move is expected to significantly reduce the recruitment time frame for Indian Railways jobs from the current 18-24 months to less than six months.As the largest recruiter in the country, the Indian Railways receives applications from millions of candidates. The integration with DigiLocker will streamline the document verification process, reducing the time required to vet documents and minimizing instances of fake documents being uploaded to claim eligibility for government jobs. The Railway Board has decided to fully integrate all Indian Railways recruitments with DigiLocker, making the entire document verification process DigiLocker-based. Additionally, calls for medical check-ups and appointment letters will also be issued through DigiLocker.Since the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, the railways has conducted two major examinations involving more than 23.7 million candidates, resulting in the recruitment of 1,30,581 candidates, as informed by Union railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to the Rajya Sabha. To further streamline the recruitment process, a system of publishing an annual calendar for recruitment to various categories of group ‘C’ posts has been established this year. Between January and July 2024, five centralised employment notifications for 40,554 vacancies were issued under the annual calendar, covering posts such as assistant loco pilots, technicians, sub-inspectors, constables in Railway Protection Force, junior engineers, depot material superintendents, and chemical and metallurgical supervisors.

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‘It gives a little more value for strategy’: Ravichandran Ashwin supports Impact Player Rule in IPL | Cricket News – Times of India

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NEW DELHI: India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced his support for the Impact Player rule introduced in the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL), citing its strategic advantages despite some criticism. The rule permits teams to substitute a player during a match, allowing for tactical adjustments which Ashwin believes add value to the game. He also refuted claims that it hinders the development of all-rounders, asserting that players still have the freedom to pursue both batting and bowling.During a conversation on Kris Srikkanth’s YouTube show Cheeky Cheeka, Ashwin explained, “Why I think the Impact Player rule is not so bad is because it gives a little more value for strategy.”He acknowledged the criticism that the rule might discourage the development of all-rounders but argued, “In this generation, they don’t do it [batters bowling and vice-versa].It’s not like they’re discouraged because of the Impact Player rule.”The Impact Player rule has sparked debate since its inception. It allows teams to extend their batting line-ups, potentially leading to higher scores. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has voiced concerns, suggesting that the rule may hinder the growth of all-rounders in Indian cricket.Nevertheless, Ashwin cited examples to bolster his argument. In Qualifier 2 of IPL 2024, Sunrisers Hyderabad played against Rajasthan Royals. Hyderabad posted a score of 175/9, and Rajasthan fell short by 36 runs. A crucial moment came when Sunrisers introduced Shahbaz Ahmed as an Impact Substitute. He took three wickets for just 23 runs, significantly influencing the match’s outcome.

“Sunrisers [Hyderabad] brought in Shahbaz Ahmed as an Impact Player [vs Rajasthan Royals, after hitting 175 for 9 batting first]; he went on to become a match-winner [with 3 for 23]. When dew has the potential to make games one-sided, teams bowling second get an extra option as a counter,” Ashwin explained.Ashwin elaborated on how the rule enhances competitiveness and dynamism in matches. “If you’re batting second, you can tactically make a substitution by offloading the extra bowler for a batter. Games are tighter, and an extra player is getting to play,” he said. He also noted that, aside from venues like Kolkata or Mumbai where scores are typically higher, other locations have seen more balanced contests with scores in the 160-170 range.Ashwin highlighted how the Impact Player rule has facilitated the rise of several players in Indian cricket. “Shahbaz Ahmed, Shivam Dube, most importantly, Dhruv Jurel… If not for the Impact Player rule, he may have never gotten the chance. So the emergence of a lot of players has happened. I’m not saying that’s the only way for players to emerge, but it’s not so bad,” he said.While opinions on the Impact Player rule vary, Ashwin’s comments highlight the strategic depth it can add to the game. The rule encourages innovation and creates new avenues for players to showcase their skills in the competitive landscape of the IPL.

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